Designed for families by architects Michaelis Boyd, the new facility at the Surrey club includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a crèche, art studio, playroom with soft play and role-play ‘high street’, three more studios for dance, functional fitness and group cycling, a games room, a new restaurant and two terraces – all set within a Victorian walled garden overlooking one of the resort’s golf courses. 

The Pavilion replaces the Youth Club, 90 per cent of which was recycled following its demolition. The new building has been fitted with solar panels, all the lights – inside and out – are LED, which are 80 per cent more efficient than traditional lighting, while lighting in the toilets and locker rooms are on motion sensors to save energy.

Both pools are filtered by a pioneering DAISY system which reduces the water, energy and chlorine used, providing swimmers with a more natural and gentler environment. The 25m outdoor pool is covered each night to reduce evaporation and save energy. By including the toddler’s pools within the envelope of the main pools, rather than separate, it improves water quality for children and uses less energy.

Sensors on taps and showers mean less water is wasted. Five water fountains will be available to keep members and guests hydrated. The coolers won’t have any single-use plastic cups, encouraging the use of refillable bottles.

Awnings and blinds are fixed to south-facing windows to reduce solar gain and the energy required to cool the building; printing will also be reduced as menus are on boards and QR codes and notice boards are displayed digitally; lockers are fitted with mechanical locks which reduce the environmental impact of batteries.

Like the Yoga Cabin, which opened at the club in 2019, the Pavilion’s larch cladding is FSC approved, meeting the highest environmental and social standards. Trees play an important role in combatting climate change, so specimen trees were protected during construction and new ones planted.

“Considering the environmental impact of the Pavilion was particularly important because it has been designed for families. We want the children to enjoy the Pavilion throughout their lifetime and make sure that it doesn’t have any negative impact in the future,” says Marc Hayton, managing director of Foxhills.